I apologize. I've lurked at dKos since early 2003, and waited a long time before I registered so I could post. Since then, I've only posted comments - either snarky ones or opinionated ones on diaries by characters like rimjob and traditions like "Saturday Night ___" threads.
I enjoy dKos because I learn a great deal about issues that the mass media don't cover in any depth, if at all. Although I'm consider myself to be a pretty smart feller, there are so many people here who are smarter and much better informed on issues that matter that I haven't reached a level of confidence that I can write on any political development in a manner that would elevate and elucidate the discourse.
So please indulge me my third diary - once again, on the subject of baseball in general and the American League championship series in particular.
It pains me greatly, but doesn't really surprise me, that my Indians have squandered their 3-1 lead over the Sox and now arrive at the Winner-Take-All seventh game to played tonight at Fenway Park, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, Massachusetts.
How did we arrive at this juncture? It seems, to me, fairly simple: here are two talented baseball teams, one experiencing their first postseason appearance since 2001 (with Kenny Lofton the sole representative from that era), the other making their fourth appearance in the last six seasons, with at least eight players - plus their manager - still on the roster from the team that won the World Series in 2004.
Simple, indeed: the Sox know what it takes to win a postseason series, even if they fall behind at first. The Indians, noble warriors to a man, may have let the Sox mystique get into their heads in what appears to be the pivotal fifth game, played at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, where the Red Sox decided that they weren't ready to quit playing baseball just yet.
Every aspect of baseball involves the mind as well as the body. Hitting, pitching, fielding and throwing involve mechanics and muscle memory borne of endless repetition to the same extent that golf does. As in golf, once a player has refined his skills to the point where every action is based on a disciplined routine, the individual's state of mind enters into the equation and introduces unsolved variables.
Both teams have players who have not performed up to their usual standards during this series. Unfortunately for the Indians, the players who have let their minds take their skills into the twilight zone have included their 1-2 starters and their three-hole hitter. They overcame the subpar performances of these individdles in the first four games, but the fear/uncertainty/doubt began to spread beginning in game five and continuing in game six. The excellent relief pitching suddenly looked like BP. The slick fielding suddenly looked as if the players were wearing cement shoes and gloves. The timely hitting became a study in guesswork and loss of strike zone awareness. And so on.
I love this Cleveland team, and I am delighted at their success in winning their division and advancing to the pennant series. I have long loved the Red Sox (but only as my second choice!) and have enjoyed their recent run of success. I hoped and almost expected that the Indians would be equal to the challenge, inexperience aside, and take the somewhat arrogant and considerably overpaid Beaneaters to the mat.
But, like the club that will always be my #1, I have lost confidence in the Tribe's ability to perform at peak effectiveness when the chips are down. Mr. Westbrook, while a serviceable major league pitcher, is their #3 starter for a reason. He has heart, but he does not always bring his good sinker to every start. Mr. Matsuzaka has demonstrated that he is a sold major league starter as well, but seems to be overwhelmed by the expectations brought about by his ridiculous contract.
The thing is, that if Matsuzaka falters early, the Boston warriors are mentally ready to pick up his fallen shield and press the battle. If Westbrook falters, manager Eric Wedge has to look down his bench at two 'elite' starters who are now cowering at their own shadows, and a lefty setup man who was unhittable until he faced the Red Sox. If the Sox get a good jump on Westbrook, and the Red Sox pen is ready and able to continue confounding Cleveland's hitters, game seven, like game six, will be over by the third inning.
Or, maybe not! It's why we fans have to wait for the players to play the games. Sox rule! Tribe rocks! Fact is, we don't and can't play this simple but extremely difficult game, and for all our cheering and support can't effect the performance of the ballplayers. We can only watch, and hope, despair and exult.
May the best team win. I am hopeful but utterly pessimistic. ;-)